Ap.sp."Fire Fins" from Bolivia?

[HaakonH]

I just stumbled upon this, from the website of a Peruvian exporter ( http://tahuampa.blogspot.com/p/last-arrivals-2011_18.html ) who claims it's something new. Thoughts?


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKUnj4Xg2qU/TnbZmyaBz8I/AAAAAAAACbE/Ojq58mSq2Gc/s1600/NEW+-+APISTOGRAMMA+FIREFIN+MALE+1+-+4+JUL+2011.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEXqgORsUb4/TnbZo3TREbI/AAAAAAAACbI/HpflekucNAo/s1600/NEW+-+APISTOGRAMMA+FIREFIN+MALE+2+-+4+JUL+2011.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CX-uF88hirA/TnbZqOQjXGI/AAAAAAAACbM/F3vIPo3in7A/s1600/NEW+-+APISTOGRAMMA+FIREFIN+MALE+3+-+4+JUL+2011.jpg

Haakon

 

[Mike Wise]

Strange fish. I cannot identify it from these photos. In most respects it looks like it belongs to the cacatuoides-group. The middle fish looks like a male; the other 2 females. It doesn't look like A. luelingi, more like A. cf. staecki Guaporé, but too deep-bodied/high-backed. It could be something new. I would need better photos to know.

 

[HaakonH]

Yes, it's weird. It does kind of remind me of atahualpa though, sharing some similarities like colour (gold/blue), round clear caudal, extended dorsal fin rays, high body, somewhat similar lateral band...don't you think?

Haakon

 

[Mike Wise]

Haakon, I agree. In many ways these fish do look like A. atahualpa. Atahualpa- and cacatuoides-group species are closely related. All atahualpa-groups species occur in the upper Rio Amazonas of Peru. None are found in the Rio Madeira system of Brazil/Bolivia. Better photos would help.